A man, seen through the window of a destroyed home, walks his dog along the beach in the Belle Harbor neighborhood in the Rockaways on January 2, 2013 in the Queens borough of New York City. Criticism, including by President Barack Obama, has been directed at the Republican House's decision to adjourn without passing a Hurricane Sandy aid bill. According to early estimates, Hurricane Sandy inflicted at least $50 to $60 billion in damage across the Northeast, making it one of the most destructive storms ever.

Photo: Spencer Platt, Getty Images

A man, seen through the window of a destroyed home, walks his dog...

A man, seen through the window of a destroyed home, walks his dog... Photo-3974954.54594 - SFGate

Image 2 of 14

A destroyed home is viewed along the beach in the Belle Harbor neighborhood in the Rockaways on January 2, 2013 in the Queens borough of New York City. Criticism, including by President Barack Obama, has been directed at the Republican House's decision to adjourn without passing a Hurricane Sandy aid bill. According to early estimates, Hurricane Sandy inflicted at least $50 to $60 billion in damage across the Northeast, making it one of the most destructive storms ever.

Photo: Spencer Platt, Getty Images

A destroyed home is viewed along the beach in the Belle Harbor...

A destroyed home is viewed along the beach in the Belle Harbor... Photo-3974960.54594 - SFGate

Image 3 of 14

Construction of a new sea wall begins along the beach in the Belle Harbor neighborhood in the Rockaways on January 2, 2013 in the Queens borough of New York City. Criticism, including by President Barack Obama, has been directed at the Republican House's decision to adjourn without passing a Hurricane Sandy aid bill. According to early estimates, Hurricane Sandy inflicted at least $50 to $60 billion in damage across the Northeast, making it one of the most destructive storms ever.

Photo: Spencer Platt, Getty Images

Construction of a new sea wall begins along the beach in the Belle...

Construction of a new sea wall begins along the beach in the Belle... Photo-3974944.54594 - SFGate

Image 4 of 14

A destroyed home is viewed along the beach in the Belle Harbor neighborhood in the Rockaways on January 2, 2013 in the Queens borough of New York City. Criticism, including by President Barack Obama, has been directed at the Republican House's decision to adjourn without passing a Hurricane Sandy aid bill. According to early estimates, Hurricane Sandy inflicted at least $50 to $60 billion in damage across the Northeast, making it one of the most destructive storms ever.

Photo: Spencer Platt, Getty Images

A destroyed home is viewed along the beach in the Belle Harbor...

A destroyed home is viewed along the beach in the Belle Harbor... Photo-3974953.54594 - SFGate

Image 5 of 14

A destroyed home is viewed along the beach in the Belle Harbor neighborhood in the Rockaways on January 2, 2013 in the Queens borough of New York City. Criticism, including by President Barack Obama, has been directed at the Republican House's decision to adjourn without passing a Hurricane Sandy aid bill. According to early estimates, Hurricane Sandy inflicted at least $50 to $60 billion in damage across the Northeast, making it one of the most destructive storms ever.

Photo: Spencer Platt, Getty Images

A destroyed home is viewed along the beach in the Belle Harbor...

A destroyed home is viewed along the beach in the Belle Harbor... Photo-3974956.54594 - SFGate

Image 6 of 14

Construction of a new sea wall begins along the beach in the Belle Harbor neighborhood in the Rockaways on January 2, 2013 in the Queens borough of New York City. Criticism, including by President Barack Obama, has been directed at the Republican House's decision to adjourn without passing a Hurricane Sandy aid bill. According to early estimates, Hurricane Sandy inflicted at least $50 to $60 billion in damage across the Northeast, making it one of the most destructive storms ever.

Photo: Spencer Platt, Getty Images

Construction of a new sea wall begins along the beach in the Belle...

Construction of a new sea wall begins along the beach in the Belle... Photo-3974948.54594 - SFGate

Image 7 of 14

A destroyed home is viewed along the beach in the Belle Harbor neighborhood in the Rockaways on January 2, 2013 in the Queens borough of New York City. Criticism, including by President Barack Obama, has been directed at the Republican House's decision to adjourn without passing a Hurricane Sandy aid bill. According to early estimates, Hurricane Sandy inflicted at least $50 to $60 billion in damage across the Northeast, making it one of the most destructive storms ever.

Photo: Spencer Platt, Getty Images

A destroyed home is viewed along the beach in the Belle Harbor...

A destroyed home is viewed along the beach in the Belle Harbor... Photo-3974958.54594 - SFGate

Image 8 of 14

Construction workers build a new sea wall along the beach in the Belle Harbor neighborhood in the Rockaways on January 2, 2013 in the Queens borough of New York City. Criticism, including by President Barack Obama, has been directed at the Republican House's decision to adjourn without passing a Hurricane Sandy aid bill. According to early estimates, Hurricane Sandy inflicted at least $50 to $60 billion in damage across the Northeast, making it one of the most destructive storms ever.

Photo: Spencer Platt, Getty Images

Construction workers build a new sea wall along the beach in the...

Construction workers build a new sea wall along the beach in the... Photo-3974943.54594 - SFGate

Image 9 of 14

A worker uses a torch while helping to construct a new sea wall along the beach in the Belle Harbor neighborhood in the Rockaways on January 2, 2013 in the Queens borough of New York City. Criticism, including by President Barack Obama, has been directed at the Republican House's decision to adjourn without passing a Hurricane Sandy aid bill. According to early estimates, Hurricane Sandy inflicted at least $50 to $60 billion in damage across the Northeast, making it one of the most destructive storms ever.

Photo: Spencer Platt, Getty Images

A worker uses a torch while helping to construct a new sea wall...

A worker uses a torch while helping to construct a new sea wall... Photo-3974951.54594 - SFGate

Image 10 of 14

Men help to construct a new sea wall along the beach in the Belle Harbor neighborhood in the Rockaways on January 2, 2013 in the Queens borough of New York City. Criticism, including by President Barack Obama, has been directed at the Republican House's decision to adjourn without passing a Hurricane Sandy aid bill. According to early estimates, Hurricane Sandy inflicted at least $50 to $60 billion in damage across the Northeast, making it one of the most destructive storms ever.

Photo: Spencer Platt, Getty Images

Men help to construct a new sea wall along the beach in the Belle...

Men help to construct a new sea wall along the beach in the Belle... Photo-3974945.54594 - SFGate

Image 11 of 14

A destroyed home is viewed along the beach in the Belle Harbor neighborhood in the Rockaways on January 2, 2013 in the Queens borough of New York City. Criticism, including by President Barack Obama, has been directed at the Republican House's decision to adjourn without passing a Hurricane Sandy aid bill. According to early estimates, Hurricane Sandy inflicted at least $50 to $60 billion in damage across the Northeast, making it one of the most destructive storms ever.

Photo: Spencer Platt, Getty Images

A destroyed home is viewed along the beach in the Belle Harbor...

A destroyed home is viewed along the beach in the Belle Harbor... Photo-3974955.54594 - SFGate

Image 12 of 14

A piece of furniture from a destroyed home sits on the beach in the Belle Harbor neighborhood in the Rockaways on January 2, 2013 in the Queens borough of New York City. Criticism, including by President Barack Obama, has been directed at the Republican House's decision to adjourn without passing a Hurricane Sandy aid bill. According to early estimates, Hurricane Sandy inflicted at least $50 to $60 billion in damage across the Northeast, making it one of the most destructive storms ever.

Photo: Spencer Platt, Getty Images

A piece of furniture from a destroyed home sits on the beach in the...

A piece of furniture from a destroyed home sits on the beach in the... Photo-3974957.54594 - SFGate

Image 13 of 14

Debris lies in a destroyed swimming pool along the beach in the Belle Harbor neighborhood in the Rockaways on January 2, 2013 in the Queens borough of New York City. Criticism, including by President Barack Obama, has been directed at the Republican House's decision to adjourn without passing a Hurricane Sandy aid bill. According to early estimates, Hurricane Sandy inflicted at least $50 to $60 billion in damage across the Northeast, making it one of the most destructive storms ever.

Photo: Spencer Platt, Getty Images

Debris lies in a destroyed swimming pool along the beach in the...

Debris lies in a destroyed swimming pool along the beach in the... Photo-3974963.54594 - SFGate

Image 14 of 14

Construction of a new sea wall begins along the beach in the Belle Harbor neighborhood in the Rockaways on January 2, 2013 in the Queens borough of New York City. Criticism, including by President Barack Obama, has been directed at the Republican House's decision to adjourn without passing a Hurricane Sandy aid bill. According to early estimates, Hurricane Sandy inflicted at least $50 to $60 billion in damage across the Northeast, making it one of the most destructive storms ever.

Photo: Spencer Platt, Getty Images

Construction of a new sea wall begins along the beach in the Belle...

Construction of a new sea wall begins along the beach in the Belle... Photo-3974952.54594 - SFGate